Author's Note: Wow, I can't believe how many people have commented and followed this story; it's seriously a lot more than I expected, and I'm grateful to every one of you.
Also to those few who got it spot on in the last chapter - well done! I don't know if I need to work at my plot development or you're just insanely smart ;) probably both, but well done! This is only a short story, so it will be reaching an end soon! X

Draco's P.O.V

It had been only been a few days since the storm and the incident on the Quidditch pitch. If there had been any other way to clear his head, he would've done it, but the lure of flying had pulled him throughout most of the night and into the early morning. Hermione had done what he'd asked, she'd stayed away from him, not one word the whole time they shared the common room, not one glance his way in the Hall, he was already missing her company, and her laugh, the way her hair bounced when she spoke animatedly. But every time the image of that pathetic tattoo swam into his thoughts, infecting everything positive with a splash of darkness, ink spilled over new parchment. He'd wanted to forgive this whole thing as easily as it had been to fall in love with her, because in his mind that's what was going on. He'd never been in love, but the time's he'd spent with Hermione curled beneath the fire, her head leaning into his chest, or the meals she'd taught him to cook with such kindness and ease. She made his stomach drop and his heart rate increase; he could even feel the blush appear as he thought of her. Yet still, there was this nagging, this pulling that told him she'd only wanted sex, that whole time. The rational part of Draco roared in disapproval, he was being stupid, she'd sounded so sincere in her words when confronting him, and it would have been a lot of effort if she didn't really enjoy spending time with him; but the part that spoke against these thoughts, that raised the issues of the challenge, came from the boy who'd entered Hogwarts, scared and self-righteous, with a strict upbringing, one that had many times resulted in a sneer of disdain from his father, when his pure-blood child didn't live up to his expectations. This part of him crept up on him so suddenly it was hard to squash it, this voice telling him he wasn't good enough for one of the Golden Trio, The Brightest Witch of her Age, and there was no possible way that she could ever love him back.
It was this inner voice that kept Draco from storming to the Gryffindor table and kissing her right there, or pulling her up into his arms in the Common room and taking her to his room to show her in not so many words, how much he forgave her. An internal battle raged beneath his cold exterior as a whole week passed, then another, and another.
He didn't know how he was going to escape this endless cycle that gave him multiple headaches even a potion couldn't cure.
It was roughly a month down the line before the Ginny Weasley pounced Draco whilst walking to the Room of Requirement, "You" she hissed, "in here." She dragged him into a broom cupboard and punched him in the arm. "You." Punch "Are." Punch "Wrecking" hard punch "Her." A pause was then followed by another punch to Draco's upper arm whilst the angry red head glared at him. He stuttered before finding his voice, not even bothering to make a witty joke at expense of the Weasley.
"I just, can't decide whether I believe her, I truly want to. It's just hard I guess…" Draco rubbed the back of his neck subconsciously and she fumed.
"Okay, well here's some news for you, I was the one that told her about this god awful challenge, and I'm going to tell you that she's come to me – as far as know – at every turning point in her plan; one of those times was to tell me how close you were getting, that she didn't know if she could go through with sleeping with you only to win a dare, she wanted to sleep with you because you're you, because she liked you. You've heard it straight from her, but now here I am, to put this right because you look like shit, she looks like shit and I have this horrible feeling you're both pining away for each other like love sick puppies, so would you get your arse out of your head Malfoy and just listen" punch "to what" punch "I'm saying." He was backed against the wall by now, with nowhere to avoid her punches, and then a part of him broke.
"I'm just, so confused and scared to believe she'd actually like me, I guess her just wanting me for sex was more believable. I'm an arrogant twat, I always have been…"
"I know, but she wants you for you, I told you that-"but before she could raise her arm to punch him he interrupted.
"Yes, yes, I know. I guess I did the whole time. Maybe just, someone else telling me to prove how ridiculous I was being made it sink in." The Weasley girl looked smug, and with a satisfied grin she pushed open the door, once down the hall she turned remembering something,
"Don't forget to actually talk to her now, Malfoy." Before he could answer she'd skipped off, hair swinging behind her.
She'd been right, the doubts had partially drifted away and now the rational part of his head was dominating his mind, once again calling for him to go find her.

Hermione's P.O.V

She'd pushed herself far back into her armchair, once again propping a book against her thighs. For once her head wasn't really in her studies, but, she realised her mock N.E.W.T examinations had gone superbly when she was seeing Draco. He'd been an excellent study partner – not as distracting as she would've assumed. She glanced out the window watching the sky outside turn salmon pink and stiffened as the portrait door swung open, ready to endure torturous hours of silence.
Instead Draco moved to her side, took the book from its place in her lap, taking her hand and pulling her up; the kiss he placed on her lips was confusing, passion and need tinged with the sweetness of reunion and paired with the tenderness of a man who truly cared about her. A hand rested on the small of her back whilst the other one cupped her head, stroking his fingers through the bushy mess and he smiled into her lips.
"Okay, I'm all sorted now. I think, that we can work past this, y'know, if you agree to just, this one little, tiny request …" he'd pulled away to look down at her, his eyebrows pulled up in worry and his teeth biting down on his soft, pale lower lip.
"Anything. I want to make up for making you feel like I'd used you, I really want to do anything to make it up to you."
"We can't have sex." And that wasn't what she'd expected, quite the opposite in fact.
"Pardon?"
"I know, it's terrible to ask that of you when going into a relationship, but there will be a part of me terrified that sex may be all you want. Though I know it's not true I can't help that part of me that can believe that. I know it's a lot to ask, I mean sex with me is great," he smirked at her with a wink "But I can't trust this whole thing, just yet. I think with time, I can completely and utterly believe you want me for me, but right now it's a bit hard to digest, and I just want some proof that I'm who you want." He let out a deep breath and then laughed aloud, "When on earth did you make me such a sap?"
she laughed with him and shrugged, kissing his nose.
"I'm not sure, but this Draco is adorable. Though I'm not saying you have to pretend to be someone for me," but he shook his head,
"really, I'm not, when I'm with you I want to be better. Though I can't promise I'll always hold back a snarky remark towards Potter and Weasley, and I'm not the most polite when it comes to making out, or fucking – when we get there." He was smirking and she reached up to hug him around the neck, bringing him in for a deep kiss.
"Okay, I agree, for as long as it takes for you to trust me, okay?"
"Deal."